Posted on by Barky Boy

How Often Do Cats Go into Heat? Facts & FAQ

While you love your feline companion, the last thing you want is a litter of kittens to take care of. However, it’s proven that if you don’t get your female cat spayed, she will most certainly go into heat, and kittens are a foregone conclusion.

You can expect your cat to go into heat around the time she hits puberty, and then she will continue to go into her breeding season regularly for the rest of her life. Cats normally hit puberty between 6 and 9 months old. While this can vary if the cat is larger, it’s a good rule of thumb to follow.

The time of year can also affect when a cat goes into puberty. If you’re wondering how to tell how often you can expect your cat to go into heat and more, we’ve got you covered in the guide below, so join us.

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How Often Do Cats Go into Heat?

Like most mammals, you can expect your cats to mate seasonally. With some cats, this season can last approximately the entire year, something no cat parent wants to deal with.

Several factors affect how often and when your cat will go into heat. Things such as the weather in your area, the temperature, and daylight hours can affect your cat. Breeding season for cats is usually from early January to late fall; this occurs primarily in the south. However, the breeding season might be shorter in the north because the weather stays colder for longer in those areas.

Some cats only go into heat once or twice a season, while others go into heat constantly. As you can see, there’s no set time or set amount of times your cat will go into the season. There are, however, a few signs you can be on the lookout for so you’re not caught by surprise when it happens.

cat in heat
Image Credit: Faroe, Shutterstock

Signs that Your Feline Is in Heat

Being in heat can be aggravating for your female cat, but it can be beyond aggravating for you as the pet parent. If you’re worried about your female feline going into heat and want to know when to keep her away from any males in the vicinity, look for the signs below.

  • Unusual display of affection

  • Grooming excessively

  • Mating call

  • Assuming a mating position

  • Loss of appetite

  • Trying to escape

  • Marking her territory

These are the most obvious signs that your female is about to enter or is in heat. This is when you take extra precautions to ensure your cat doesn’t get pregnant if you don’t want kittens.

cat not eating the food
Image Credit: Elena Kutepova, Shutterstock

How to Stop Your Cat From Going into Heat?

There is no way to stop your cat from going into heat unless the cat is spayed. If your cat goes into heat before you can make her an appointment to be spayed, keeping her inside and away from contact with any males in your neighborhood is best. Keep her inside, even if you suspect she’s going into heat, and watch any open doors or windows because she will slip by you and take off before you know what’s happened. Make your cat as comfortable as possible when she’s in heat. Patience, love, and extra pampering can help you both get through it until you can get an appointment to have her spayed.

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Final Thoughts

Female Cats go into heat at various times and for different amounts of time. You can look for the signs that your female is going into heat that we listed above. However, the best way to ensure you don’t have a litter of kittens in the future is to get your cat spayed as soon as she’s old enough. Make an appointment with your vet, and they can tell you the best time to have your cat spayed.

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Featured Image Credit: iwciagr, Shutterstock

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